HomeMy WebLinkAboutAwards and Presentations - May as Asian American and Pacific Mayor Carr to proclaim May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage
Month and present proclamation to Mary Adams Urashima for her passion for
preserving Huntington Beach's Asian history
Switzer, Donna
From: Estanislau, Robin
Sent: Monday, May 3, 2021 2:00 PM
To: Switzer, Donna
Subject: FW: PUBLIC COMMENT May 3 2021 City Council presentation 3,21-364 Asian American
and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
You'll probably receive this from Cathy Fikes
SUPPLEMENTAL
Robin Fstanislou, CMC, City Clerk -:COMMUNICATION
City of Huntington Beach
714-536-5405 1AexMrp 08te
Agonda ram No.;
Please consider the HB City Clerk's office for your passport needsl
From: Mary Urashima<mary.adams.urashima@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 3,2021 1:17 PM
To:CITY COUNCIL<city.council@surfcity-hb.org>
Cc: Estanislau, Robin<Robin.Estanislau@surfcity-hb.org>; Fikes,Cathy<CFikes@surfcity-hb.org>
Subject:PUBLIC COMMENT May 3 2021 City Council presentation 3.21-364 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage
Month
Hello Mayor Carr and City Council Members,
Thank you for presenting me with a proclamation recognizing my work as a historian and author on Asian
American history in Huntington Beach, specifically our long Japanese American history. I am very honored
and appreciative of the effort this City Council is making to recognize our community's history and cultural
diversity.
1 thought you may be interested in a current feature on a historical figure in Huntington Beach, Masami Sasaki.
His chili pepper enterprise generated jobs and revenue for Huntington Beach during the Great Depression. Chili
peppers are one reason Huntington Beach weathered the Depression better than other communities, as the top
producer in the entire country.
During World War II, when Masami Sasaki was incarcerated at Tule Lake Segregation Camp (California), he
became a key figure in landmark civil liberties case law preventing the deportation and preserving the
citizenship and civil rights of 5,500 Japanese Americans.
The acts of this one individual---who had been a community leader in Huntington Beach---changed the lives of
thousands. http://historicwintersbure.blogspgt.com/2015/03/red-hot-chili-pgpWrs.html
It's my hope that the history shared brings new awareness and understanding of the contributions of Asian
Americans as part of the larger story of America. Huntington Beach's Sister City relationship with Anjo,Japan,
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continues a history and friendship of more than a century. It is my hope we recognize, honor and preserve
where this history exists within the community for future generations.
Again, thank you very much for this honor. During a time when there has been a rise in anti-Asian hate and
violence, this is a deeply appreciated statement by the City Council.
Best,
Mary Adams Urashima
Huntington Beach, CA
Historic W intersburg.blogsWt.com
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