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[opinions]

I' ve listened to your talk show today about The International Management District in Southwest Houston with guests, State Rep. Hubert Vo and Mr Steven Dieu, a community activist. The program's discussion was interesting, but it was not the subject which our community is currently concerned about and want to listen to.

I tried to call in to input my opinion and some information about the subject, but my call was not answered because your talk show's time was cut shorter than scheduled.

I believed that 3 of you were talking about different subjects (or issues), instead of discussing about the NAME for the limited ethnic business areas (inside the International Business District), that runs from Beltway 8 on Bellaire Blvd. to Highway 6 South, which really has more Vietnamese American owned businesses than the Chinese-American owned businesses. The dispute to the name of AsiaTown (for all Asian people) or New Southwest Chinatown was brought up to the public by Mr Hoang Duy Hung, new President of The Vietnamese American Community in Houston & Vincinity based on the self-claimed boundary lines made by some Chinese Business groups consistently every few years.

I would like to send to you and State Representative Hubert Vo a link from Houston Business Journals related to the similar subject, an ethnic business district name Little Saigon was issued by the City of Houston back in May 2004 for our Vietnamese American Community inside the Midtown Management District, between 2600 -3500 blocks of Travis and Milam streets. It was a recognitional effort made by the previous Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce and former City councilman Gordon Quan. Presently, the name of Little Saigon is still there, historically, but the Vietnamese American businesses have long left due to the expansion of the Vietnamese American communties into the various surburban areas especially on the Southwest Side of Houston. There are but a few businesses and restaurants that are scattered throughout Midtown mainly serving the mainstream community.

So based on that City Proclamation, I believe that we could apply for another name for our Vietnamese Business Area in the International Business District without interfering with the current State laws and stop the mistaking actions from the Chinese American Community in the future.

I hope that with the help from Rep. Hubert Vo, Mr Al Hoang and the other wellknown community activists like Mrs Kim Nix, Mrs. Tammy Tran, Mr Quoc Van Huynh, Mr Danny Doan Nguyen, Mr Steven Dieu,... ...and the media, we will have our own new name as AsiaTown (or New Little Saigon) be proclaimed by the City of Houston for the specific area mentioned above. We don't want to create an ethnic war between Chinese American and Vietnamese American community, but we want the true name for this fast growing area.

[saywhat]

I never knew there is such a thing called Asian Town or Little Saigon Town

[nangviet]

saywhat said:

I never knew there is such a thing called Asian Town
Boycott Lee Sanwiches in all US city
Lee Sandwiches, Dr. Ngai, and some business owners think that they own the Vietnamese community and Story Road. by vehemently being against the much supported Little Saigon and view the rest of the community as being of the proletariat. Since their businesses have flourished because of the Vietnamese community, they arrogantly regard themselves are the elitists and more shockingly, disregard everyone in the community by demanding the community to follow their desires. In that manner, they have disrespected our elders, who are not as affluent or able to voice their opinions to the public as the business owners are, and the community, especially since the Vietnamese population has been the main, vital supporters and consumers of their businesses. Since the overwhelming majority of the people 's decision is for Story Road. to be called "Little Saigon," what is wrong with the name? Little Saigon means unity within all the Vietnamese American in the America, but apparently, they don't desire unity. Hence, I am asking everyone to boycott Lee Sandwiches, Dr. Ngai and any business owners that look down upon the greater Vietnamese community.