Westminster forms New CRA Unit - under Dispute
Posted by: Lady Fingers | 02/17/2008 9:13 AM
The California Republican Assembly, "the conscious of the Republican Party" as President Reagan called it, has been a long-standing, great addition to conservative politics in California. When you want to form a new CRA group, you are required to have a reasonably specific geographic area (with a map outlined) with the name of it in the title of the group you wish to form.
On January 25, 2008, a group of citizens from Westminster decided it was time to form a Westminster California Republican Assembly group. A formation meeting was held, then another meeting to elect officers was held. Then another meeting was held on February 8 to bring the unit's members up to date on a dispute that was apparently filed with regard to the formation of this unit. One of the CRA State Officers assisted with all the paperwork, the boundary map was drawn, all paperwork was completed, it was taken to a meeting of the Board of CRA and approved.
Then a "dispute" was filed. The Westminster CRA has been unable to gain access to a copy of this "dispute" but according to the CRA by-laws (posted on the CRA website) all of the required steps had been taken to correctly form this new group. At dispute, as told by the CRA membership officer, are the boundary lines of the Westminster CRA. The dispute was apparently filed by the Orange County American-Vietnamese CRA unit. When the Westminster CRA, and a CRA State Officer requested the boundary map for the OC American-Vietnamese CRA (OCAV-CRA) unit, they were told that there was no map filed for that group when it was formed. That map was requested BEFORE the formation of the Westminster CRA. An extensive search of CRA files has not turned up a boundary map for the OCAV-CRA that could have been submitted later.
At a meeting which none of the Westminster CRA group attended (where the new group was to be approved, held in Monrovia), someone (remained nameless) offered a compromise that the boundary line be either moved from Magnolia to Newland or Beach Blvd. Keeping in mind that the new Westminster CRA SHOULD be able to include ALL of Westminster, the newly formed group, out of respect for the OCAV-CRA did NOT do that. The boundary map left out the significant portion of Westminster commonly referred to as "Little Saigon". The Westminster CRA boundary map included all other portions of Westminster, including Midway City which is an island city surrounded by Westminster on all sides.
According to the CRA By-Laws, there should be no dispute as to the formation of the new Westminster CRA. At question is really whether the broadly named Orange County American Vietnamese CRA would stop any other CRA unit from existing in Orange County. Since they named their group "Orange County......" that includes a broad geographical area. They further defined it as "American Vietnamese" which could indicate that it was set up for Vietnamese in Orange County to be able to identify with other conservative Vietnamese all over Orange County. However there is no provision in the State CRA By-Laws that apply to ethnically oriented CRA groups.
This move is being perceived by many as a stalling technique to keep the newly formed Westminster CRA from being able to select delegates to the State CRA meeting, and to delay the ability to make endorsements of candidates. What is perceived is that the OCVA-CRA does not want delegates to cast endorsement votes for the first supervisorial district. While the first supervisorial district is often a topic in this blog; and the current First District Supervisor, Janet Nguyen is often a topic on this blog; the Westminster CRA was not formed with this specific purpose in mind.
The history of forming this new group goes back a couple of years to a CRA meeting held in Orange, where delegates cast their votes to endorse for the first supervisorial district. The OCAV-CRA then cast their delegate votes for Kermit Marsh, who later pulled out of the race and the endorsement went to Bustamonte. But at that meeting a new feeling was disturbing. Members of the OCAV-CRA who wanted to belong to a CRA; and that was the closest one to Westminster, had been members of the OCAV-CRA and one was a delegate when the state meeting was held in Bakersfield that year. But at this meeting, that non-Vietnamese person was replaced as a delegate (quite surprisingly to all) by a person of Vietnamese heritage. When the unit President was asked "why?" the response was that since the name of the CRA was "American Vietnamese" they felt it was more appropriate to have a Vietnamese person as a delegate. At that point, the non-Vietnamese members felt excluded and did not elect, the following year, to pay dues and declined to continue participation in the OCAV-CRA. While those persons respected the OCAV-CRA, they did not feel respected. So thus, LAST YEAR one of those persons asked the State CRA for papers to establish a Westminster CRA since one did not exist. Due to many other commitments, the papers were not filed until January 2008. But let's be clear about "why" the new Westminster CRA is being established. Clear is: All of Westminster was not represented by a "Westminster CRA" and it left a clear path to forming a new group which can be inclusive of all people in Westminster.
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
"the conscious of the Republican Party"
Some folks think the party is unconscious.
Name names!
What is Lady Finger cooking? This is an odd posting to say the least. Does it have something to do with trying to do an end run on getting Janet Nguyen an endorsement?
Lady Fingers, if you intend on writing about local conservative issues in Westminster, then I look forward to your future posts. Just try to refrain from getting in the middle of the food fight between Janet and the Trannies.
GOP-Insider: Looks to me more like the Trannies (since the grievance comes from the group on his side of the fence)have put the people wanting to form the new CRA into an untenable situation. Sounds like they just wanted to start their own group and are being challenged on the right to do so. I think they are the recipients of at least one side of the flying food and it does not look like they were really hungry for that.
Up to Something: did you read the whole post? looks like this was planned way before the food fight.
So the Westminster CRA became a self-appointed authority to define what Little Saigon area encompasses. With that appointment, the Westminster CRA annexed Midway City to its power. Even though the authority the Westminster CRA claimed to have is in questionable how accurate they know the area.
What if in the next two years that Little Saigon area expands beyond Midway City would the Westminster CRA relinquish its authority upon that area.
Just wonder who did the Lady Fingers refer to a group of citizens of Westminster? Are they appointed by Janet Nguyen? And when did the CRA meeting hold to cast their votes to endorse for the first supervisorial district candidate? Was this special election 2007 do you refer to? How can it be "couple years ago"? Please give us an accurate names and facts.
Should someone start a Little Saigon CRA which would encompasses Westminster, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Stanton, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, etc... That wouldn't be a wise move.
Where is Scott Baugh or Mike Spence when we really need their leadership?
Dear Anonymous: The Westminster CRA was not a "self appointed authority to define what Little Saigon Area encompasses". Little Saigon has been defined for years along certain boundary lines of streets which was respected in this new map of the Westminster CRA. Midway City is an "island city" surrounded by Westminster; and also was never incuded in the OC AVCRA; and currently the NEW Westminster CRA has a member from Midway City. No, the group of citizens Lady Fingers was referring (as far as I know) to was NOT a group appointed by Janet Nguyen (why does EVERYTHING have to be her fault with you people?) Because I am the President of that newly formed CRA, and I was not appointed by Janet Nguyen to start any new CRA, I don't think that is within her purview as a County Supervisor.
The Supervisor race referred to was the one in which the 1st District seat was vacated by Lou Correa, and it was the same special election that created so much controversy, the same election that Janet Nguyen won...that's the race that Kermit Marsh was given the endorsement on. And, pardon me but I don't have an exact date of that meeting, but I'm sure the CRA does.
You can see Mike Spence's response under "Just the Facts" on this website.....
Happier now? 8-)
Lady Fingers,
Let's have the names of the dissindent members who want to form another group out of Westminster. Once all of us know who they are, we will have a much better idea as to the motivation of this group.
BTW, why is Pilger so darn defensive of Janet Nguyen? Is she a part of this new group? Is this all a coincidence?
"Give up the names Please! said:" So what IS YOUR NAME?
Anon,
None of the names that would play along with Pilger and her shell unit.
To Anonymous 2/18/08 8:57 AM
June 17, 1988: Then-Gov. George Deukmejian dedicated the area bordered by Westminster Boulevard, Bolsa Avenue, Magnolia Street and Euclid Street as “Little Saigon.”
No official change of those bordering streets has been identified in any record.
Little Saigon is not so "Little" anymore. Little Saigon has greatly expanded since.
You're citing a 20-year old event that was purely dedicated for tourist and as a point of interest, at that time only.
Little Saigon is not so "Little" anymore. Little Saigon has greatly expanded since.
You're citing a 20-year old event that was purely dedicated for tourist purposes and as a point of interest, at that time only.
Yes, Little Saigon keeps taking up more territory in Westminster, Garden Grove and Fountain Valley and managing to chase out the stores that we long-time residents used for years. A whole new "shop keeping" attitude goes along with that expansion. But you know, it is a sad thing that you come to America, that welcomes you, many of the residents who fought in the war in Vietnam; encourages the new Americans only to have them hoist the flag of their defeated country, and refuse to integrate into American society, they seclude themselves in the same areas bringing with them the way of the old country. Did you want to be part of America? Or did you only come here to get away from Communism? Did you come here to start a new life, or to bring the old one with you?
Hey Anon at 3:59 PM,
Save your self-pity and racist comments for your family members, who may have the time to listen to your rants.
God help you if Obama occupies the White House!
Anonymous,
It is discriminatory statements and thoughts like yours that make the GOP the perpetual "minority" Party in California. Your paternalism and shallowness show through and through.
Oh by the way, did you and your foreparents adopt the ways of the Native Americans (Indians) when you come to this -- which is their country?
It's okay for your foreparents to obtain Manifest Destiny, or expand Westward and take over the country and kill hundreds of thousands of Indians in the process. But no! Those Vietnamese?! How dare they become so successful by owning businesses, homes, and expanding their community?
Dear Ms. Little Saigon:
I think you make my point for me. It's only discriminatory when you see it as discriminatory. What about when I was discriminated against because I was not Vietnamese? Is that not the same?
Actually I was born in California - a 5th generation American, and again you make my point for me. No, even though I am 1/8 Cherokee Indian, I choose to be an American. If I went to Vietnam, I would have to adopt the ways of Vietnam. If I went to any country in the world, I would have to learn the language and adopt the ways of that country. Have you ever heard of the "Trail of Tears"? Well I don't live in the past because there isn't anything I can do about it. I live in America, and that is what I should be. An American.
I applaud the Vietnamese for becoming successful, owning businesses and buying houses, that is the American way. And I appreciate that 90% of the Vietnamese are conservative Republicans, it was one of the reasons I was proud to live in Westminster. My father was a United States Marine for over 20 years; and he fought two "tours" in Vietnam. When my friends in high school began to wear black armbands in protest to the war in Vietnam...I walked away from them and didn't have anything to do with them for the remainder of my high school years. When Frank Fry supported the Vietnam War Memorial Statue, and it was finally put in, I thanked him. It also honored my Father. When I was growing up I remember writing letters to my dad, sending him pictures, and clipping hair off of our pets to tape into letters so he could "pet" them from afar. Those who are family of service men also serve. I did without my dad for nearly 2 1/2 years cumulatively as he fought for Vietnam's freedom.
I am ashamed of the political weakness and the protestors, the Jane Fonda's, etc. that protested that war...no I'm not ashamed, it wasn't MY shame, I'm angry that they did that because our government officials catered and caved into "getting out of Vietnam" when it was ill-prepared to defend its self.
When I learned about the American-Vietnamese CRA (and there was no "Westminster CRA") I joined along with a friend of mine. We particiated in meetings. We enjoyed the people, and we had no problems with doing this, it was fun, a nice cultural exchange, enlightening, and very encouraging.
I've been shopping in the Asian Garden Mall ( number of times..I know now which shops will actually serve me). In several shops I was ignored (this is many years ago) along with my other American Friend, who was visiting from another state and wanted to see "Little Saigon". It was rather embarassing. She asked me why they weren't waiting on us and I told her I didn't know why. She attempted to go in a few shops by herself and received some of the same treatment. We could have dropped a few hundred dollars there that day, but it was pretty hard to get any attention in some of the shops. Not because they were busy..because in some cases there were no other customers in the shop and they looked at us and refused to speak to us. When we addressed them they indicated they didn't speak English and then would go to the back of the store and just stare at us.
But back to the AVCRA...Then my friend was selected as a delegate, for which she proudly performed the duties, and traveled long distances to do that for the AVCRA. But then, at an important event where the delegates were to cast and endorsement for the 1st supervisorial district; at that meeting (and not before) she was told she was not the delegate anymore, that a person of Vietnamese heritage had been designated in place of my European-American friend; and when we asked "why?" we were told because the name of the unit was "American VIETNAMESE" they felt that a Vietnamese should be casting the endorsement vote.
Now, is that discrimination? How do you explain that?
Well that is interesting. So this seems to go both ways. Will Ms. Saigon respond to Vivian?