What a contrast!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 12, leaders of two Little Saigon cities – Garden Grove and Westminster – will discuss and vote on two very different approaches to the current political moment. 

In short, the Westminster City Council will probably sink $3,000 into new street signs to designate a “Charlie Kirk Way,” while the Garden Grove City Council will decide whether it’s worth some City staff time to make a web page to connect residents to local immigration resources. 

Westminster City Council

The agenda for the Nov. 12 Westminster City Council meeting includes an item about redesignating a street name sign on All American Way to “Charlie Kirk Way” and an item to declare October 14 as “Charlie Kirk Day.” The agenda also includes an item for the Council to denounce communism for what has to be the hundredth time. The meeting will be at 6:00pm in the Council Chambers at 8200 W. Westminster Blvd. You can find more information about sending or giving public comment on the meeting agenda document.

Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen requested the “Charlie Kirk Way” street sign (Agenda Item 9.1) and resolution denouncing communism (Agenda Item 9.3). Councilmember Amy Phan West previously requested the “Charlie Kirk Day” declaration (Agenda Item 9.2), which is now back for a final vote. [Ed. note – here we see the two Republican candidates against Derek Tran, trying to outdo each other with their MAGA “virtue” signaling!] 

You might be wondering why yet another resolution denouncing communism is on the Westminster City Council agenda. Didn’t they just pass a resolution condemning VietRISE as a bunch of evil communists? Well, this new resolution is probably in response to handwringing over Councilmember Nam Quan Nguyen’s archnemesis potentially visiting Orange County’s Little Saigon and wearing the red-with-yellow-star Vietnamese flag during her visit. (I previously wrote a blog post about her suing him, in case you want to read more about her there).

Mock-ups and diagrams in staff report for Westminster City Council Agenda Item 9.1

According to the staff report, the new “Charlie Kirk Way” street signs will cost the City of Westminster $3,000. For the same amount, the City could probably help cover basic needs for a handful of low-income residents… but I guess that’s not something the Westminster City Council right-wing majority would like since “handouts” are immoral. It’s way better to spend that money on a street sign commemorating Charlie Kirk, right?

I’m sure visitors to the Westminster campus of Coastline College, the Westminster Branch of OC Library, and Liberty Park – all very close to the street segment to be redesignated – will feel so deeply supported by the City of Westminster when they drive or walk past “Charlie Kirk Way.”

Garden Grove City Council 

Meanwhile, at 6:30pm that same night, the Garden Grove City Council will be voting on a resolution that affirms the City’s support for immigrant rights and civil liberties. The resolution also directs City staff to put together and publish information about local immigration resources for residents (Agenda Item 20). The meeting will be in the Council Chambers at 11300 Stanford Ave, Garden Grove. You can find more information about sending or giving public comment on the City website.

Let’s backtrack a little bit. During the last Garden Grove City Council meeting on Oct. 28, the Council discussed whether to formally consider the resolution. The Council voted 5-1-1 to move forward with a version of the proposed resolution that incorporates some amendments offered by Mayor Pro Tem Joe DoVinh. It’s worth noting that Councilmember Cindy Tran (who was endorsed by Supervisor Janet Nguyen) objected throughout the discussion. She only voted “yes” after it was clear the item was going to move forward regardless of her vote. 

Ultimately, all three Vietnamese members of the Garden Grove City Council, including Councilmember Phillip Nguyen, voted alongside Councilmembers Ariana Arestegui and Yesenia Muñeton to move forward and put the item on the Nov. 12 meeting agenda for final approval. Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein – also an OCGOP Vice Chair – abstained after failing to kill the item. Councilmember George Breitigam opposed, with a red-faced rant about how creating an informational page is “aiding and abetting criminal behavior.” (Didn’t realize Irvine or Costa Mesa were breaking the law by just… publishing contact information for Catholic Charities.)

Despite some of his previous comments on immigration, Mayor Pro Tem Joe DoVinh went on another one of his friend’s talk show episodes the week after the Oct. 28 Council meeting and defended his support of the resolution. DoVinh rebutted Councilmember Brietigam and emphasized that “if we can help one person or one family, it’s good – just advertise (that information), there’s nothing illegal at all because it’s just information.” DoVinh said that while the web page might not be entirely free, public funds should be used to benefit residents. He also mentioned “heartbreaking” videos on social media of ICE and Border Patrol concealing their identities and using violent tactics while detaining people out on the street. 

We’ll see if DoVinh sticks to his word on Wednesday night.

A Microcosm of Little Saigon Immigration Politics

I never thought I’d say this, but if Garden Grove Mayor Pro Tem Joe DoVinh votes to approve Agenda Item 20 and it passes, then he (and whoever else votes to approve) will have done more to support the Vietnamese community when it comes to the current immigration enforcement situation than many others who love to loudly claim they “represent” the Vietnamese community – looking at you, Westminster city councilmembers. Garden Grove City Council Agenda Item 20 might be just a web page, but at least it’s something.

Westminster Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen said two months ago that although he supports Trump’s border policies “1000%,” he also thinks those who have been in the U.S. for a long time, who were convicted of crimes, and who served their full prison sentences should be given “a chance to start a second life,” especially if “they haven’t reoffended, they have started a family, they have built a community.”

Nguyen probably knows there are actually a pretty decent amount of Vietnamese people affected by immigration enforcement. Those who are at risk of deportation (like my own relatives) are often in these situations because of decades-old criminal convictions that they’ve already served prison time for. The Trump administration’s approach to immigration also doesn’t seem to be very popular among Asian Americans, including Vietnamese Americans.

Yet, Nguyen’s sympathy for people in our community doesn’t matter much if he’s still trying to “out-Republican” (as Councilmember Carlos Manzo likes to say) Councilmember Amy Phan West by putting resources towards basically everything but actually helping community members. 

I’m trying not to get my hopes up too much. And I’m definitely not excusing previous inaction or hurtful comments some of these councilmembers have made in the past. But there’s a real chance that, on Wednesday night, some of Garden Grove’s Vietnamese city councilmembers might show some actual leadership when it comes to supporting people in need in our community, even when it might not be totally politically “safe” to do so.

Better late than never.