AAS 345 OL - Contemporary Asian American Issues

1. 03-05-2008 12:53

designation struggles.....

I learned from my recent political tour on Eagle Rock that the same thing happened to the Filipino community there. Back in 2002, the Filipino community leaders also sought to designate a 1.3-mile stretch of Eagle Rock Boulevard as Philippine Village, but a group of local homeowners opposed the plan and a contentious debate ensued. The homeowners argued that the designation would unnecessarily single out one ethnic group and would detract from the neighborhood. 
 
Some homeowners feel that that a separate designation for one nationality would raise that nationality over and above all others and separate it out as being somehow better than all others, which they argued, would be discrimination and which is why they are not supporting the idea.  
 
And yes, like you mentioned above, other Los Angeles enclaves have honored various ethnic group with places like Korea Town, Little Tokyo, Little Armenia, Thai Town,etc.. but in Eagle Rock, it was met with antagonism. But the Fil-Am community explained that they are not changing any name; that they just want to have recognition, a simple designation.  
 
The Los Angeles City Council ultimately approved a compromise -- a sign on the boulevard, not far from the mall, denoting the Philippine Village Community Center. But there was no designation as Phiippine Village as was originally requested.

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