welcome to the asian art museum. my name is jay shee, the director of the asian art museum. on behalf of the staff and board, we welcome you in the backdrop of the upcoming exhibitions, ritual performances. it will be open to the public february 25. this is the first time in history of the united states that the indonesian culture, particularly the island of bali, will be presented to our public. this is a wonderful example of the value and service that a museum provides to our community. we are a platform for cultural exchange, as well as cultural diplomacy. this museum has served for many years this say and we continue to be more robust in our service to the public. as you know, our museum is governed by a couple of foundations. the foundation is a private fund-raising arm for the museum. that museum took out a loan in 2000. we have had some difficulty and this is the news lately. under the leadership of our city and our commission and foundation board, today we are pleased to present to the public a proposal to solve a bond issue that is conflicting the foundation. let me

that is not true of only asian cultures. when i grew up, it was japanese against chinese against koreans. we did not even know why we were fighting. it was because that was what we learned growing up from our parents. i think the greatest thing that our generation has achieved is that we now call each other asian americans, and we see each other as kindred cousin saw. the recent incidents of violence involving asian and african americans in the two fatal assaults involving elderly asian-american victims allegedly committed by african-american youths has raised the question of whether the growing interracial tensions in cities like san francisco and oakland are partly to blame. i think most of us hope that the election of president obama would transcend the racial divide. however, even if this divide were somehow overcome, it would not address the racial divide amongst minorities in this country. the reality is that the same prejudice that exists between blacks and whites exist between asians, latinos, and african- americans.

vice chair of the asian arts commission. >> on behalf of the asian art museum foundation, i express our deep gratitude to mayor newsom, mayer brown, city attorney dennis herrerra, controller rosenfield, and other leaders for their leadership and helping us find a solution to the debt. we appreciate the city's assistance and support for assisting us in these difficult economic challenges. the city's support is for a wealthy cause. for nearly 40 years, the asian art museum foundation has provided much-needed financial support for the museum. this support has enabled the museum to successfully fulfill its mission of leading a diverse global audience in discovering the unique materials, aesthetic and intellectual, achievements of the asian culture. over the years, millions of museum visitors have experienced the museum's world-renowned connection -- collection. truly one of the city's most viable assets as well as for a great array of education. the city's plan for strengthening the museum's financial position will make sure the foundation can continue these efforts for future generatio

african-americans and asian- americans. do you novak when the agent exclusion act, the chinese exclusion act was before congress in 1870, the first national leader to speak out against that was frederick douglass. the same man who fought against slavery. do you know that when the chinese exclusion act was voted on in congress, there was one black senator named blanche bruce, the only african-american in the u.s. senate, voted against it. similarly, we work side-by-side for semel -- civil rights and improve public education. in '86, and laundry owner sued the san francisco board of supervisors for a racially discriminatory law, and it brought equal protection to minorities, and that overturned the 1857 dread scott case, which held that minorities were not protected by the u.s. constitution. we have the landmark case of brown harris is board of education, 1954, to thank for equality in education. -- brown v. board of education. seven years later, the chinese community here worked shoulder to shoulder with the african- america

every single year to create an asian art museum offering. i think that is something that is not to be looked at lightly. i also think that with the insurance agreement in the ability for the board of supervisors and future mayor to be able to weigh in on whether there is a default that occurs is also an important one. when we think about the risk to the city, we know the risk is potentially $11 million in increased operating costs to fulfil our charter obligations. but should things go south, should there be a default on the loan, the only obligation the city currently has is for the controller to submit a supplemental for us to consider and potentially put money in the budget to make sure repay that loan. there will be many conversations to make sure we never get to that point. but we appreciate all the work that has been put into this. i think this is a very solid deal. >> do we have a motion? supervisor mirkarimi: motion to approve the agreement with recommendation. chairperson chu: without objection. item five, please. >> item 5, hearing

for us to be year to stand in front of you, it is an honor to be here to be part out the asian pacificmericans five years in a row, and we are honored to do everything to serve the food, and we try the best we can, so tonight, i hope you enjoyed the food very much, and we hope to see you again. thank you. [applause] thank you very much. we have more food for you. two quick things -- we have finally coming up right now, and we have a green room recession after the finale -- reception after the finale. when you are on your way up, as you leave, but not yet, you will be given a little ticket, and this ticket will allow you to go up to the green room celebration was more great food -- we are asian, after all. we have great food and lots of it. this ticket will get you into that green room reception. this ticket -- there will be a blank boxes on this ticket, and as you go to each station, you can check off that box. once the boxes are all marked, you take that ticket, put it in a raffle are -- jar, and it will be your chance to win a gift certificates from one of the participating restauran

that is not true of only asian cultures.i grew up, it was japanese against chinese against koreans. we did not even know why we were fighting. it was

they were formed to demonstrate asian culture through the art of glow sticks.low sticks are synonymous with the buyer dancing from hawaii. they did a great job with those close sticks. -- with those glow stick. i am going to serve as your mc. the first rule of thumb i get to ask of all of you is please turn off your cell phones. we would really appreciate it if you could check right now to see that yourself bones are on silent mode are completely off. -- that your cell phones are completely off or on silent mode. we have some great performances coming up. they deserve your attention. we ask you the favor to check your phones right now. i am delighted to have been asked to serve as your mc today. i am from hawaii, third generation. i am all about asia/pacific. it is so important to me. i know it is to all of you. to start us off right away, i want to say please welcome a wonderful performer. she will give up her heart and soul. she is going to sing our national anthem. would you please give a warm welcome. [applause] >> ♪ oh, say can you see by the dawn's early

americans, latinos and -- for women, asian americans, and latinos. he also represented tenants in the first rent strike ever against the housing authority, which led to one of our strongest public housing organizations. he litigated the groundbreaking anti-eviction strategy. they are amazing leaders for our community and a huge part of shifting the power of voices in san francisco superior -- in san francisco. i know i am listing many of the things we all have read about and know about ed, but i think it is historic in many ways to have him as the mayor. i met him when he was an organizer, and he was always responsive and respectful, and he took the job seriously. he very much wanted to connect public resources to a constituent superior to -- to constituents. i think it is nice to be part of a commission that is unanimous. i think this agreement is good, and we are representing a lot of constituents, but i think it speaks volumes that we will all be supporting him today, and i want to end west with a q regionuote -- with a quote. i want to help not o

they're asian. they drive the same thing, they push for better -- >> let me ask you this, because my father grew up in brooklyn in front of immigrants, his father kept a cat-o-nine tails in the living room, he had to get as and all that stuff, i just wonder how much of this is not so much a product of east versus west, because he was from eastern european, russians and pols is my family background. but immigration because they come from situations where they have nothing and darn it, they were denied opportunities but their kids are going to have them, versus the fact that it's a chinese method versus a russian method. >> i think the author herself said, it wasn't peculiar to her -- to asians that there are other ethnic groups that push them. i think -- >> she said generally speaking. she said she even mentioned a south dakota dad who raised his kids like she does and she called him a chinese mom. [laughte >> let me tell you, wasn't there a survey recently that said, that the first two years of coll

you say asian people in the united states are not supportive of asian actors, asians in the arts. >>oung people. they're doing it. they're very hungry. i'm talking about my generation. >> hinojosa: what do you think that's about? >> well, two things. one is they are busy surviving. >> hinojosa: yeah. >> working, you know? the other thing is-- this is my theory and i am sticking to it-- chinese have an innate disrespect for artists. >> hinojosa: i know, and when you when you said that i was like... >> because historically, an educated man, a cultured man, has to know how to paint, has to know how to write poetry, how to be... he has to know everything, but he does not earn a living by it. how does he earn a living? by being an official. or being a hermit. if you are earning a living doing these things, you are not an artist, you are a craftsman. and craftsmen are treated quite differently. so even my father... my father was one of the greatest actors. of course, famous, blah, blah, blah. but in the end, even when i was a child, i would get children say, "and who do you think you are?

president chiu: the asian art museum. i think everyone knows that they have recently had extremely challenged finances. it is an incredible city treasurer. it holds the largest city collection of asian art in the western hemisphere that depicts 6000 years of age and history through 17,000 artifacts. this legislation would preserve the continuation of the museum, continue to enrich the education of school children and tourists from arab world, and allow them to serve as both a resource for our community in the asian community again throughout the world. i want to think the hard work of our former mayor and the staff as well as the city comptroller, our director of public finance, and our city attorney for their efforts in crafting a solution to allow the museum to regain its financial footing. i am also introducing a resolution today to extend the statute of limitation regarding the 49ers at candlestick park. as many of you know, the city and our football team have been in negotiations over a settlement of various issues b

this is also an historic day for the asian-american community. for a community that has been here in san francisco for over 160 years, i am a product of that community. i know that ed and all of us who are of asian-american descent feel the legacy. and i want to thank all of you who have been part of this historic moment to make this happen. and say that this is obviously not just about a chinese american community or an asian-american community. this is about the american dream. the idea that anyone from any background of any color from any part of the globe can come here and someday be at the very top of what our community is about. [applause] in closing, i also want to just say that this is an historic moment because we have overseen the orderly transition of leadership. what we have done at the board here at city hall is what separates a democratic society from less democratic ones. free communities from less free ones. we have overseen a truly orderly and wonderful transition of leadership from our lieutenant governor, gavin newsom, to our n

and this is a show where the asians and the asian americans in the show are not necessarily portrayedains. there are villains... there's the good guys, and there's the villains. or what is perceived as the villain. because stereotypically a lot of asian actors in a lot of american shows would be maybe the triad leaders, or gang leaders, or what. but with this, the romantic lead is asian, the romantic lead, the leading lady is asian, and george takai is the lead guy. >> hinojosa: what i love is the fact that you are here, this international star. because your music, you've, like, what, gone multiplatinum on who knows how many records? but you still have to go in sometimes and read for a part. >> yeah. >> hinojosa: right? >> absolutely. >> hinojosa: you still have to do that. and people might not know this, because, you know... >> i still have to audition. >> hinojosa: ...people don't necessar... i always watch all of the credits on everything, especially because i have kids. whenever i go see anything animated i want to see who did the voices. >> right. >> hinojosa: you did the singing

for nearly 40 years, the asian art museum foundation has provided much-needed financial support for the museum. this support has enabled the museum to successfully fulfill its mission of leading a diverse global audience in discovering the unique materials, aesthetic and intellectual, achievements of the asian culture. over the years, millions of museum visitors have experienced the museum's world-renowned connection -- collection. truly one of the city's most viable assets as well as for a great array of education.

>>>quan, first woman, first asian american woman mayor of oakland. now ed lee may become the mayor of san francisco. >> ed lee is an old friend. i call him for advise. >> reporter: now the residents -- now the asian american community in san francisco is 18% higher. >> finally asian americans are moving to the center of american politics. >> reporter: chinese americans coming to build railroads, work in mines, live in china town ghettos to keep them separate. >> many chinese americans, many asian americans come from countries where the government were repressive and political participation in those countries was highly discouraged. >> reporter: despite all the hoopla now the real first was actually 40 years ago in san jose. when norman maneta was elected as the first asian american mayor of a major american city. >>> an fbi employee who oversaw security clearances in the san francisco bureau pled guilty today to making false statements to the agency. in 2007, rachelle tomaskul declared that she owed 866,000 -- >>> burlingame has pledged to step up ag

>>>quan, first woman, first asian american woman mayor of oakland.ow ed lee may become the mayor of san francisco. >> ed lee is an old friend. i call him for advise. >> reporter: now the residents -- now the asian american community in san francisco is 18% higher. >> finally asian americans are moving to the center of american politics. >> reporter: chinese americans coming to build railroads, work in mines, live in china town ghettos to keep them separate. >> many chinese americans, many asian americans come from countries where the government were repressive and political participation in those countries was highly discouraged. >> reporter: despite all the hoopla now the real first was actually 40 years ago in san jose. when norman maneta was elected as the first asian american mayor of a major american city. >>> an fbi employee who oversaw security clearances in the san francisco bureau pled guilty today to making false statements to the agency. in 2007, rachelle tomaskul declared that she owed 866,000 -- >>> burlingame has pledged to step up agai

they will start to be curious and wonder how this is here and how we look at the asian culture. >> you have lived internationally, you have lived in cities like new york and beijing, now shanghai. you made a very conscious decision to lend this culture to san francisco as opposed to having it premier as an exhibition at another museum. >> i am very satisfied with the turnout and i lived in new york for 8 years and all of my children were born in new york. i already have the american spirit. i am proud to be here and i really appreciate the spirit of committing to things and being honored and being collaborative. when i flashed back to my career, i think about what an artist can do is a teeny tiny thing. i want to contribute to the hall human society. what art can do is just this tiny bit. >> your invitation has already proven to be a great success and we really look forward to spending time with your sculpture. thank you for being part of "culture wire." >> thank you for being part of this project. >> thank you for watching. join us for future episodes. you can >> welcome to culture wi