This measure would designate the portion of Interstate Highway 405 from Bolsa Chica Road in the County of Orange to Magnolia Street in the County of Orange as the Little Saigon Freeway. The measure also would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing that special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs.

This measure would designate the portion of Interstate Highway 405 from Bolsa Chica Road in the County of Orange to Magnolia Street in the County of Orange as the Little Saigon Freeway. The measure also would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing that special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs.

WHEREAS, In April 1975, the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, fell to the Vietnamese communists, and over the following 48 years, millions of Vietnamese have fled communist oppression in their homeland; and

WHEREAS, More than 2,500,000 Vietnamese refugees and immigrants became permanent residents and citizens of the United States, and over 800,000 resettled in California; and

WHEREAS, In June 1988, Governor George Deukmejian recognized the importance of Little Saigon as a major cultural, social, and commercial center of southern California, and freeway signs officially designating the Vietnamese business district in the Cities of Westminster and Garden Grove as Little Saigon were unveiled; and

WHEREAS, The signs gave official status to the title Little Saigon, recalling the name of the South Vietnamese capital more than a decade after it was changed to Ho Chi Minh City by the communist government; and

WHEREAS, Little Saigon is the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam and is a destination for tourists and refugees from all over the world; and

WHEREAS, The designation of Little Saigon in the County of Orange represents the very first Little Saigon in the United States; and

WHEREAS, One can find all types of services and businesses in Little Saigon, including restaurants, supermarkets, medical clinics and centers, pharmacies, and law offices serving the Vietnamese American community, as well as other local and surrounding area residents in the County of Orange; and

WHEREAS, Tet festivals and parades in Little Saigon celebrating the Vietnamese lunar new year have attracted thousands of participants; and

WHEREAS, Vietnamese voters in Little Saigon are now a significant voting bloc, and Vietnamese Americans are political leaders on the city councils of the Cities of Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and Westminster, and on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, as well as on the school boards in the school districts serving these areas; and

WHEREAS, The Vietnamese community in Little Saigon pioneered many political movements, demanding freedom in Vietnam and fighting against the oppression and dictatorship carried out by the totalitarian communist regime, whose oppression is the main reason for slow economic growth in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, The Vietnamese community has launched a campaign demanding the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience, who mainly ask that fundamental human rights be afforded to all of Vietnams citizens and seek the separation of powers and removal of the one-party system; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the portion of Interstate Highway 405 from Bolsa Chica Road in the County of Orange to Magnolia Street in the County of Orange as the Little Saigon Freeway; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, In April 1975, the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, fell to the Vietnamese communists, and over the following 48 years, millions of Vietnamese have fled communist oppression in their homeland; and

WHEREAS, More than 2,500,000 Vietnamese refugees and immigrants became permanent residents and citizens of the United States, and over 800,000 resettled in California; and

WHEREAS, In June 1988, Governor George Deukmejian recognized the importance of Little Saigon as a major cultural, social, and commercial center of southern California, and freeway signs officially designating the Vietnamese business district in the Cities of Westminster and Garden Grove as Little Saigon were unveiled; and

WHEREAS, The signs gave official status to the title Little Saigon, recalling the name of the South Vietnamese capital more than a decade after it was changed to Ho Chi Minh City by the communist government; and

WHEREAS, Little Saigon is the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam and is a destination for tourists and refugees from all over the world; and

WHEREAS, The designation of Little Saigon in the County of Orange represents the very first Little Saigon in the United States; and

WHEREAS, One can find all types of services and businesses in Little Saigon, including restaurants, supermarkets, medical clinics and centers, pharmacies, and law offices serving the Vietnamese American community, as well as other local and surrounding area residents in the County of Orange; and

WHEREAS, Tet festivals and parades in Little Saigon celebrating the Vietnamese lunar new year have attracted thousands of participants; and

WHEREAS, Vietnamese voters in Little Saigon are now a significant voting bloc, and Vietnamese Americans are political leaders on the city councils of the Cities of Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and Westminster, and on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, as well as on the school boards in school districts serving these areas; and

WHEREAS, The Vietnamese community in Little Saigon pioneered many political movements, demanding freedom in Vietnam and fighting against the oppression and dictatorship carried out by the totalitarian communist regime, whose oppression is the main reason for slow economic growth in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, The Vietnamese community has launched a campaign demanding the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience, who mainly ask that fundamental human rights be afforded to all of Vietnams citizens and seek the separation of powers and removal of the one-party system; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the portion of Interstate Highway 405 from Bolsa Chica Road in the County of Orange to Magnolia Street in the County of Orange as the Little Saigon Freeway; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:ACR 71

Author:(Ta)

As Introduced Ver:May 1, 2023

Majority Vote

SUMMARY

Designates the portion of Interstate Highway 405 from Bolsa Chica Road in the County of Orange to Magnolia Street in the County of Orange as the Little Saigon Freeway. The measure also would request the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) determine the cost of appropriate signs showing that special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs.

Major Provisions

COMMENTS

In April 1975, the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, fell to the Vietnamese communists, and over the following 48 years, millions of Vietnamese have fled communist oppression in their homeland. More than 2.5 million Vietnamese refugees and immigrants became permanent residents and citizens of the United States, and over 800,000 resettled in California.

In June 1988, Governor George Deukmejian recognized the importance of Little Saigon as a major cultural, social, and commercial center of southern California, and freeway signs officially designating the Vietnamese business district in the Cities of Westminster and Garden Grove as "Little Saigon" were unveiled. The signs gave official status to the title "Little Saigon," recalling the name of the South Vietnamese capital more than a decade after it was changed to Ho Chi Minh City by the communist government. Little Saigon is the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam and is a destination for tourists and refugees from all over the world.

The designation of Little Saigon in the County of Orange represents the very first "Little Saigon" in the United States. One can find all types of services and businesses in Little Saigon, including restaurants, supermarkets, medical clinics and centers, pharmacies, and law offices serving the Vietnamese American community, as well as other local and surrounding area residents in the County of Orange. Tết festivals and parades in Little Saigon celebrating the Vietnamese lunar New Year have attracted thousands of participants.

Vietnamese voters in Little Saigon are now a significant voting bloc, and Vietnamese Americans are political leaders on the city councils of the Cities of Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and Westminster, and on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, as well as on the school boards in school districts serving these areas.

The Vietnamese community in Little Saigon pioneered many political movements, demanding freedom in Vietnam and fighting against the oppression and dictatorship carried out by the totalitarian communist regime, whose oppression is the main reason for slow economic growth in Vietnam. The Vietnamese community has launched a campaign demanding the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience, who mainly ask that fundamental human rights be afforded to all of Vietnam's citizens and seek the separation of powers and removal of the one-party system.

According to the Author

After the fall of Saigon, Vietnam, in 1975, more than 2,500,000 Vietnamese refugees and immigrants fled to the United States in search of freedom, with over 800,000 resettling in California. A majority of these refugees settled in Orange County in a community that would later be known as "Little Saigon," and which is predominantly located in the cities of Westminster, Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, and the unincorporated area of Midway City. This quickly became the largest Vietnamese Diaspora community in the world, and was officially recognized by Governor George Deukmejian in 1988. ACR 71 commemorates the 35th anniversary of California's official recognition of Little Saigon in Orange County by designating a stretch of Interstate 405 as "Little Saigon Freeway."

Arguments in Support

Supporters of this resolution, City of Westminster and the Westminster Chamber of Commerce, believe it provides a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of the Vietnamese-American community in Orange County and throughout the state. As the City of Westminster celebrates the 35th anniversary of Little Saigon they hope to ensure it reaches its full potential. The proposed Little Saigon Highway will generate increased economic activity in the region and the freeway signs will spark interest for tourism, commuters and locals alike to explore the district, sample the cuisine and visit the many monuments and memorials around the area. This will look to benefit Little Saigon and the surrounding community.

Arguments in Opposition

A dozen Westminster residents wrote in with individual opposition to this resolution stating Westminster has many different cultures and to name this large portion of the 405 Freeway "Little Saigon Freeway" takes away from the cultural and historical significance of the entire city. Opposition would prefer the portion of freeway being named remain only in the area designated as Little Saigon and not the entire city of Westminster.

FISCAL COMMENTS

Unknown, but the measure requests that Caltrans determine the cost of appropriate signage consistent with requirements for the state highway system, and only erect the appropriate signage upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering the cost.

VOTES

ASM TRANSPORTATION: 15-0-0

YES: Friedman, Vince Fong, Alvarez, Berman, Juan Carrillo, Davies, Gipson, Hart, Jackson, Kalra, Stephanie Nguyen, Sanchez, Wallis, Ward, Wicks

UPDATED

VERSION: May 1, 2023

CONSULTANT: Aimee Anspach / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN: 0001201

Date of Hearing: July 5, 2023

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Laura Friedman, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:ACR 71 (

Author:Ta) – As Introduced Ver:May 1, 2023

SUBJECT: Little Saigon Freeway

SUMMARY: Designates the portion of Interstate Highway 405 from Bolsa Chica Road in the County of Orange to Magnolia Street in the County of Orange as the Little Saigon Freeway. The measure also would request the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) determine the cost of appropriate signs showing that special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs.

EXISTING LAW: Assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating and maintaining state highways. This includes the installation and maintenance of highway signs.

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, but the measure requests that Caltrans determine the cost of appropriate signage consistent with requirements for the state highway system, and only erect the appropriate signage upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering the cost.

COMMENTS: In April 1975, the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, fell to the Vietnamese communists, and over the following 48 years, millions of Vietnamese have fled communist oppression in their homeland. More than 2,500,000 Vietnamese refugees and immigrants became permanent residents and citizens of the United States, and over 800,000 resettled in California.

In June 1988, Governor George Deukmejian recognized the importance of Little Saigon as a major cultural, social, and commercial center of southern California, and freeway signs officially designating the Vietnamese business district in the Cities of Westminster and Garden Grove as “Little Saigon” were unveiled. The signs gave official status to the title “Little Saigon,” recalling the name of the South Vietnamese capital more than a decade after it was changed to Ho Chi Minh City by the communist government. Little Saigon is the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam and is a destination for tourists and refugees from all over the world.

The designation of Little Saigon in the County of Orange represents the very first “Little Saigon” in the United States. One can find all types of services and businesses in Little Saigon, including restaurants, supermarkets, medical clinics and centers, pharmacies, and law offices serving the Vietnamese American community, as well as other local and surrounding area residents in the County of Orange. Tết festivals and parades in Little Saigon celebrating the Vietnamese lunar New Year have attracted thousands of participants.

Vietnamese voters in Little Saigon are now a significant voting bloc, and Vietnamese Americans are political leaders on the city councils of the Cities of Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and Westminster, and on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, as well as on the school boards in school districts serving these areas.

The Vietnamese community in Little Saigon pioneered many political movements, demanding freedom in Vietnam and fighting against the oppression and dictatorship carried out by the totalitarian communist regime, whose oppression is the main reason for slow economic growth in Vietnam. The Vietnamese community has launched a campaign demanding the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience, who mainly ask that fundamental human rights be afforded to all of Vietnam’s citizens and seek the separation of powers and removal of the one-party system.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

City of Westminster
Westminster Chamber of Commerce

Opposition

12 Individuals

Analysis Prepared by: Aimee Anspach / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093