NY Times: In One Suburb, Local Politics With Asian Roots

[La_Serpiente]

In One Suburb, Local Politics With Asian Roots

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Those seeking visions of the new Cupertino do not have to look far. It may be found in the neat rows of shoes on front doorsteps, in the tanks of live seafood at the Tin Tin supermarket, or the shopping malls bristling with signs in Mandarin.

But perhaps the most potent symbol of the transformation of this sprawling Silicon Valley suburb may be found at the Joy Luck Place in the Cupertino Village shopping center, where members of the city's Asian-born power elite strike deals over dim sum and tea in a new twist on the smoky backroom.

Perhaps best known as the headquarters of Apple Computer, Cupertino is gaining new attention as a beacon of Asian-American political participation. Asian-Americans now make up 19.3 percent of the population in the Bay Area, and 31.1 percent in San Francisco. But Cupertino, which is about 45 miles southeast of San Francisco, has undergone an even bigger change. Its population of 50,000 is now 44.8 percent Asian-American, compared with less than 10 percent in 1980.

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In One Suburb, Local Politics With Asian Roots

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[JailForBush]

1. It's about time Asian Americans got involved!

I was involved in a major Seattle lawsuit involving an Asian American who challenged the Seattle Mafia. We got a lot of press in the Asian Weekly, but very few members of the Asian commnity displayed any interest at all.

If whites and blacks won't get a clue about politics, maybe Asian Americands can show us the way.

[La_Serpiente]

2. here here

Only in Hawaii will one find many Asian politicians. True, California has its share, but rarely do I see Asians in places of Washington policymaking.

On top of that, when Chaplain Yee was arrested, there was hardly any outcry from the Asian-American or Chinese-American communities. I thought they would have learned from what happened to Dr. Wen Ho Lee, but I guess not.

[JI7]

3. delete