“The California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus strongly condemns the appalling attack mail piece against Los Angeles City Council candidate John Choi released by the group ‘The Best Successor to Eric Garcetti – Committee to Support Mitch O’Farrell for City Council District 13 in 2013.’

“The mail piece features a bright red background and bright yellow words as headlines, one reading ‘Not From Our Community.’ It also features prominently centered photo of Council candidate John Choi, a Korean American, labeling him as ‘The Other Guy,’ in a pose reminiscent of dictators. The imagery is clearly created to invoke xenophobic fear of communism and falsely portray Choi as a communist.

“The use of images and color schemes that invoke racist, xenophobic, and discriminatory images and fear to rile up voter sentiment is unwarranted and despicable.

“Anti-Asian sentiments in America have had devastating consequences in U.S. history, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Japanese American internment during World War II, and the senseless murder of Detroit autoworker Vincent Chin during the U.S. auto crisis more than 30 years ago. We do not need another inflammatory ad such as this mailer against John Choi to perpetuate xenophobia and racism against Asian Americans.

“The unfortunate truth is: this is not the first time that a candidate running for public office or a political campaign has invoked such despicable and offensive scare tactic. Just last year, U.S. Senatorial candidate Pete Hoekstra in Michigan released an ad featuring an Asian woman with a bicycle on a pathway in rice paddies, speaking English with an accent, proclaiming, ‘Thank you, Michigan Senator Debbie Spenditnow. Debbie spends so much American money… Your economy get very weak. Ours get very good. We take your jobs.’ Additionally, in 2011, Congressional candidate Mark Amodei of Nevada released an ad featuring a fictional Chinese newscast depicting the Chinese army marching through Washington with a Chinese flag flying over the U.S. Capitol.

“We urge the voters to reject these discriminatory behaviors to make sure that this type of campaign tactics does not repeat again – not now, not ever.

“The California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus requests that candidate Mitch O’Farrell join the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus in condemning this mail piece.

“Most importantly, we demand ‘The Best Successor to Eric Garcetti – Committee to Support Mitch O’Farrell for City Council District 13 in 2013’ to immediately cease using such type of anti-Asian negative campaigning and issue an apology to the people of Council District 13 and the Asian American community.”

California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus
Korean American Democratic Committee (KADC)
Asian Pacific Americans for Progress-LA (APAP-LA)

and members of the Asian Pacific Islander Community for an
API Volunteer Mobilization Day for John Choi!

Saturday, May 11, 2013
10AM – 2PM

John Choi for Los Angeles City Council Campaign HQ
5662 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Please RSVP to: cademparty.apicaucus@gmail.com
or RSVP on Facebook by clicking here

You can help get them elected by clicking here and start calling voters today!

Norma Torres for State Senate
Click Here to Call

Leticia Perez for State Senate
Click Here to Call

Lorena Gonzalez for State Assembly
Click Here to Call

“On behalf of the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, we are honored to join all Americans in commemorating the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as we celebrate the uniquely vast diversity of our community that is found only in America.

“As the fastest growing immigrant population in the United States, the Asian Pacific Islander American community has been a crucial component in building modern America for more than 150 years. The rich and complex story of the Asian Pacific Islander American community is the story of America. Even today, Asian Pacific Islander Americans continue to break barriers.

“As home to the largest concentration of Asian Pacific Islander Americans in the United States, California has led the way in many such historic breakthroughs in the Asian Pacific Islander American community, including:

• Home to Secretary Norman Mineta, the first AAPI to serve as Cabinet secretary in U.S. history, appointed by President Clinton; and Secretary Steven Chu, who served in the Obama administration;
• The election of March Fong Eu as Secretary of State, the first AAPI and woman to hold statewide office;
• The election of Rep. Dalip Singh Saund, the first AAPI to serve in Congress;
• The election of Rep. Judy Chu, the first Chinese American woman to serve in Congress, currently Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus;
• The 2012 election of Rep. Mark Takano, the first openly gay person of color to serve in Congress;
• The 2012 election of Assembly Member Rob Bonta, the first Filipino American to serve in the California State Legislature;
• Home to the first AAPI majority Congressional District in the continental United States, currently represented by Rep. Mike Honda in the Bay Area, Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and Vice Chair Emeritus of the Democratic National Committee;
• Home to the first AAPI majority state legislative district in the continental United States, currently represented by Assembly Member Ed Chau in the San Gabriel Valley area;
• Having the largest number of AAPI in state history currently serving in the California State Legislature;
• Having the first AAPI majority on the current California Supreme Court;
• Home to the first Chinese-language political party website in the nation, hosted by the California Democratic Party.

“This critical year, as we continue our achievements and progress, we must embrace our legacy, cherish our diversity, and continue to fight together to move America forward. To that end, we must stand together and work hard together to pass Immigration Reform so those who yearn to achieve the American Dream have an opportunity to make it a reality.

“Together, we can further strengthen the AAPI community and our nation. And together, we can continue making history, one at a time.”

Statewide Officers
Chair - Clark Lee
Secretary – Panney Wei (Not Pictured)
Treasurer – Maritessa Bravo Ares (Not Pictured)

Northern California Officers
Northern Chair - Aref Aziz (Not Pictured)
Northern Vice Chair - Lindsey Nitta
Northern Secretary – S. Nadia Hussain
Northern Outreach Chair - Deepa Sharma

Southern California Officers
Southern Chair - Mike Fong
Southern Vice Chair – Melissa Ramoso
Southern Secretary – Michael Cheng
Southern Outreach Chair - Jacqueline Wu

“The Democratic Party is the Party of diversity, of inclusion, and opportunity. While Democrats are decades ahead of our Republican counterparts when it comes to reaching California’s diverse communities, we’re not going to rest on our laurels. That’s why the California Democratic Party’s Asian Pacific Islander Caucus undertook this first of its kind effort to create a Chinese language section of the California Democratic Party website. This is but part of our continuing outreach efforts to the Asian Pacific Islander community, the fastest growing immigrant population in California,” said Clark Lee, Chair of the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus.

There are over 400,000 Chinese-American voters in California and an estimated 20% of that total request a Chinese-language ballot from the Secretary of State.

The addition of a Chinese language section makes the California Democratic Party the first state party in the country – either Democratic or Republican – to host a Chinese language section. The addition also means the California Democratic Party is host to the first tri-lingual state party website in the nation since a Spanish language section was added in 2009.

Lee continued, “California is a state rich in diversity. The Golden State is home to the largest concentration of Chinese Americans in the United States. We hope that the Chinese-language website section will help foster better understanding about our Democratic Party values and increase Democratic political engagement in the Chinese American community.”

The translation project was spearheaded by Tommy Tseng, community activist and former Editor-in-Chief of Harvard Kennedy School’s Asian American Policy Review; Charity Chao, community activist and Chinese-language educator; and Clark Lee, CDP API Caucus Chair. All of whom are fluent in Chinese.

Click here to visit the California Democratic Party Chinese-language section: http://www.cadem.org/chinese

===

加州民主黨亞太裔黨團
宣布推出加州民主黨網站的中文部分

洛杉磯/ 薩克拉門托 – 美國加州民主黨 (California Democratic Party / CDP) 的亞太裔黨團 (Asian Pacific Islander Caucus / API Caucus) 今天宣布推出加州民主黨網站的中文部分。加州民主黨成為美國第一個有這類網站功能的州政黨機構。

加州民主黨亞太裔黨團主席李天然 (Clark Lee) 表示 ︰「民主黨是代表多元性，包容性和機會的政黨。雖然民主黨在幾十多年來外展加州多元化人口的能力高超過共和黨，我們並不滿足於已有的成就。因此，加州民主黨亞太裔黨團創設了全國第一有中文部分的加州民主黨網站。這是我們外展擁有最快增長移民人口的亞太裔社區的努力。」

加州有超過40萬名華裔選民，其中估計有20％的選民從州務卿辦公室要求中文選票。

無論是民主黨或共和黨，加州民主黨不僅是全國第一個有中文網站的政黨，加州民主黨也是美國第一個具有三種語言網站的政黨。2009年時，加州民主黨網站添加了西班牙文的部分。

李天然繼續說：「加州是具有豐富地多元化社區的州。加州也是美國華裔人口最集中的州。我們希望中文網站將促進華人社區更加了解民主黨的價值觀，並鼓勵更多華人參與民主黨的政治活動。」

民主黨網站中文翻譯計劃的主要成員包括社會活動家及前哈佛大學肯尼迪政府學院 (Harvard Kennedy School of Government) 亞太裔美國人政策檢討主編 (Asian American Policy Review Editor-in-Chief) 曾建瑋 (Tommy Tseng)， 社會活動家和中文教師趙素秋 (Charity Chao)，和加州民主黨亞太裔黨團主席李天然。所有的人都會講流利的中文。

探訪加州民主黨中文部分，請點擊這裡: http://www.cadem.org/chinese

Join the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus (CDP API Caucus) at the 2013 California Democrats State Convention in Sacramento!

2013 California Democrats State Convention
Friday, April 12, 2013 – Sunday, April 14, 2013
Sacramento Convention Center
Click here to visit the official California Democratic Party Convention website.

Party leaders will be elected at the Convention and various workshops are featured to prepare and train Democratic activists.

Caucus Meeting at the Convention
The CDP API Caucus Meeting at the Convention will be held on Friday, April 12, 2013, from 4:30 PM to 6:15 PM at the Sacramento Convention Center, Room 319 (Please check the California Democratic Party Convention listing for updates). Click here to download the CDP API Caucus Meeting Agenda with 2011-2013 Term Accomplishment Highlights and Reception information.

If you would like to join the CDP API Caucus or to renew your Caucus membership prior to the Convention, please click here to visit the Caucus Membership page.

Caucus Reception at the Convention
Additionally, please join the CDP API Caucus and the CDP Filipino American Caucus and our co-hosts for a Convention Reception on Saturday, April 13, 2013, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Mikuni Restaurant & Sushi Bar (1530 J St., San Diego – corner of 16th St. and J St.).

At the Reception, we will be honoring Congress Member Mike Honda, Speaker of the Assembly John A. Pérez, and Assembly Member Rob Bonta. Please click here to download the Convention Reception Invitation or click here to RSVP via Facebook. If you would like to RSVP or to co-host, please email us at cademparty.apicaucus@gmail.com.

“Today, we lost a giant in the United States Senate and a true American hero with the passing of longtime U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.

“Senator Inouye was a tireless fighter. His distinguished lifelong career as a public servant is an inspiration for all Americans: from a decorated World War II hero to Hawaii’s first Member of Congress to the second longest-serving U.S. Senator. His leadership, courage, and commitment to public service are unmatched.

“As the highest-ranking Asian American elected leader in United States history, Senator Inouye was a trailblazer who opened the door for generations of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in public service and politics.

“On behalf of the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, we thank Senator Daniel Inouye for his extraordinary service to the United States. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the people of Hawaii.”

Please click here to visit the California Democratic Party website for details and to sign up.

The deadline to apply to become a candidate is Friday, December 14, 2012, at 5:00 PM.

BRIEF OVERVIEW

Assembly District Meetings

The Assembly District Delegates (ADDs) and Assembly District Executive Board representatives (“EBd Reps”) are elected at Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMs) held in each of the 80 Assembly Districts. The California Democratic Party is convening ADEMs on January 12 and 13, 2013, where 12 people (6 men / 6 women) from each Assembly District will be elected to represent their district for both the 2013 and 2014 State Conventions. A person may only participate in the ADEM if he/she is a Democrat residing in and registered to vote by October 22, 2012 deadline, unless the person turned 18 or was a naturalized after the deadline, and is registered or registers onsite.

Why be a Delegate?

• Attend annual convention
• Network with other Democrats
• Represent your constituency
• Elect Party officers
• Promote the California Democratic Party agenda
• Endorse candidates for statewide, legislative and congressional office
• Vote to endorse resolutions and ballot measures

Reorganization of the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) begins at the end of 2012 and goes through February 7, 2013. Members of the DSCC (also known as “Delegates”) come from the following sources:

• Elected through County Committees
• Appointed by Democratic Elected Officials / Nominees
• Elected through Assembly District

The Assembly District Delegates (ADDs) and Assembly District Executive Board representatives (“EBd Reps”) are elected at Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMs) held in each of the 80 Assembly Districts. The California Democratic Party is convening ADEMs on January 12 and 13, 2013, where 12 people (6 men / 6 women) from each Assembly District will be elected to represent their district for both the 2013 and 2014 State Conventions.

Learn How to Run for Assembly District Delegate:

Click here to download the CDP API Caucus Meeting agenda

Click here to visit the CDP website for Executive Board information

Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Agenda: 5:45 PM – 6:25 PM

I. Call to Order

II. Approval of Agenda / Welcome

III. Officer/Executive Board Reports

IV. 2012 Election Recap
A. Obama for America
B. National & Statewide
C. Battleground California
D. Congressional & State Legislative
E. Local

V. New Business
A. Caucus Recent Activities
B. ADEM Elections
C. 2013 Elections

VI. Announcements / Open Discussion

VII. Adjournment (Followed by Filipino American Caucus Meeting)

Elected Official / Candidate / Party Leader / Special Guest Remarks following the Joint-Caucus Meeting

Note: Speakers – The last portion of the Joint-Caucus Meeting is reserved for remarks from elected officials, candidates, Party leaders, and guests who wish to address the Caucus. One minute is allotted for each speaker. Please sign up by emailing clark@clarklee.com or by signing up at the Caucus meeting on-site.