ac•tiv•ist, noun: a person who works to bring about political or social change By Warren Furutani (Warren Furutani: 2022, 272 pp., $21, paperback) For some 50 years, Warren Furutani has been one of the spokespeople for the Sansei generation, starting with his notoriety as an activist at the dawn of the Asian American Movement to […]
Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga enters supervisor race
March 16, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Longtime Mountain View Councilmember Margaret Abe-Koga has more to give as she looks beyond serving in her city. Abe-Koga, 52, is the first to enter the race for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 5 seat. She announced her bid to replace incumbent Supervisor Joe Simitian at a Lunar New Year event hosted […]
Silicon Valley mother-daughter duo committed to public service
February 2, 2023 by Leave a Comment
It started with stuffing campaign envelopes together as a family. Decades later, mother Rosemary Kamei and daughter Ellen Kamei are both serving in local government. Rosemary, a likely pick for San Jose vice mayor, won the District 1 seat for City Council last June. District 1 is based in West San Jose and includes the […]
LISA MOTOYAMA: El Cerrito’s first Japanese American mayor
January 5, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Despite a long history of Japanese Americans living and working in El Cerrito, Calif., the city of 26,000 has never had a Japanese American mayor. On Dec. 20, however, City Councilmember Lisa Motoyama succeeded Councilmember Gabe Quinto to become mayor of the city for a one-year term. Originally from Gardena, Calif., Motoyama is a Yonsei […]
Japanese Americans, APAs win elected office
November 10, 2022 by Leave a Comment
A number of Japanese Americans and Asian Pacific Americans won their races in the Nov. 8 Midterm Elections. What follows is a sampling of the winning candidates, or those projected to win. Federal Office: U.S. Senate: Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) U.S. House of Representatives: Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento, Calif.) Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside, Calif.) Rep. Ro […]
San Jose Spotlight: Silicon Valley leaders condemn race-baiting election ads
November 10, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Community groups and leaders in Santa Clara County are speaking out against attack ads using race-baiting tactics to pit one minority group against another. Groups including the Asian Law Alliance, San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP, SOMOS Mayfair and Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet rallied in front of San Jose City Hall Nov. 2 to condemn racist dog […]
David Kakishiba and EBAYC: Community-based programs to help youth
October 13, 2022 by Leave a Comment
David Kakishiba has spent 42 years working with the East Bay Asian Youth Center, better known by their acronym EBAYC. While the organization has evolved to suit its constituents’ needs, Kakishiba’s mission has remained unchanged since he first joined the organization in 1980. His community advocacy efforts creating healthy environments for youth has informed his […]
Anti-U.S. base incumbent Tamaki secures 2nd term as Okinawa governor
September 15, 2022 by Leave a Comment
NAHA, Japan — Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki won a second four-year-term following Sept. 11’s gubernatorial election, obtaining a renewed mandate for his efforts to discontinue a plan to relocate a U.S. base within the island prefecture. Opposition-backed Tamaki defeated former Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima, 58, who was supported by the ruling coalition of the Liberal […]
Survey polls Asian American voters on economy, gun control, education, vote choice and more
August 4, 2022 by Leave a Comment
WASHINGTON — Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote, AAPI Data and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC released their biannual report measuring Asian American sentiment and attitudes on the issues “top of mind” in the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections, the organizations said in a statement July 25. The organizations surveyed 1,610 registered Asian American […]
4 running to fill Wilma Chan’s seat on Alameda County board of supervisors
May 12, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Four people are running to fill a seat on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors that became vacant following the death of Supervisor Wilma Chan. Chan’s former chief of staff David Brown is serving as supervisor for her district until the election is held. The Alameda County Taxpayer’s Association has mounted a challenge to the […]
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