Bie^?u ti`nh co^.ng ddo^`ng San Jose co' ke^'t qua? : Vu. dda(.t te^n "Little Saigon" se~ ddu+o+.c ba^`u la.i (Tin ba'o Mercury News / San Jose)

Bie^?u ti`nh co^.ng ddo^`ng San Jose co' ke^'t qua? : Vu. dda(.t te^n "Little Saigon" se~ ddu+o+.c ba^`u la.i (Tin ba'o Mercury News/San Jose)

Reed, Nguyen reverse course, propose putting "Little Saigon" name on ballot
By Joshua MolinaMercury News -
Article Launched: 02/11/2008 11:19:16 AM PS

After nearly three months of acrimony, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilwoman Madison Nguyen caved under pressure today, announcing they will move to rescind the city council's controversial "Saigon Business District" vote - and place the naming of the Vietnamese retail area on the November ballot.The proposed ballot measure would ask: "Shall a Story Road retail area between Senter Road and U.S. 101 be named Little Saigon?" Residents citywide would vote on the issue."The only pure democratic process left is to recommend that the naming of the area be decided by a vote of the people in San Jose," wrote Reed and Nguyen in a memo released this morning. "A November 2008 ballot measure to decide this will best ensure that the greatest number of voters turn out, ensure inclusiveness, and perhaps, even encourage first-time voters energized by this issue to vote for other issues such as President of the United States."The council on Nov. 20 voted to name the retail area "Saigon Business District," infuriating thousands of Vietnamese-Americans who wanted to call the area "Little Saigon."The vote led to calls for the resignation of Nguyen, the only Vietnamese member of the council, and weekly protests in front of City Hall.Barry Hung Do, spokesman for San Jose Voters For Democracy, the group pushing to oust Nguyen, was elated with the decision to hold a citywide election on the "Little Saigon" name."Let the people vote for this name to avoid any backdoor negotiation," Do said. "I think this is the best way for City Hall to save face."It appears, however, that little can be done to mend fences with Nguyen. "Things will never be the same," Do said. "She has already damaged the unity of the community."