Nov 15, 2007 7:20 pm US/Pacific
SJ Officials Propose 'Saigon Business District'
SAN JOSE (BCN) ―
San Jose city officials Thursday proposed naming a mile-long stretch of Story Road the "Saigon Business District" in recognition of the city's large Vietnamese community.
The name of the district has been controversial since Councilwoman Madison Nguyen first proposed establishing a Vietnamese business district along Story Road between U.S. 101 and Senter Road.
Many members of the San Jose's Vietnamese community want the district to be known as "Little Saigon," which carries political implications because Saigon was the name of the former capital of South Vietnam.
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed joined Vice Mayor Dave Cortese and Nguyen at a City Hall news conference Thursday to announce the proposed name.
"It's a compromise," Reed said. "It gives the power to the people to call it what they want."
A large crowd attended the announcement; many of them were vocal "Little Saigon" supporters, according to Reed's spokeswoman Michelle McGurk.
"It was a raucous crowd. There were a lot of folks there and at times they were chanting 'Little Saigon,"' McGurk said.
The City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed name Tuesday. Reed said the important thing that is being overlooked is the near-universal agreement that that part of town deserves a name recognizing its Vietnamese character.
"The vast majority of people think we should do it," Reed said.
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