MARCH 14TH RALLY TO SAVE JAPANTOWN
Japanese American Community Rallies Around Special Use Legislation to Protect and Preserve Community's Character

San Francisco – On Tuesday March 14th , 2006, leaders from San Francisco's Japantown community and concerned citizens will rally to support efforts to protect and preserve the neighborhood's historic character and cultural significance. Recently, four major properties, including the Japantown Mall, the Radisson Miyako Hotel, the AMC Kabuki Theaters and the Miyako Inn, were put up for sale. Last week, it was announced that a group of investors known as “3D” signed a deal to purchase both hotels. Although community leaders had submitted a list of requests, including a promise from the new owners that the hotels would not be sold in the future and would be maintained as hotels, the purchasers refused to agree.

Last month, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who represents District 5 which includes Japantown, introduced legislation that would recognized Japantown as a “special use” district, requiring new developers to obtain a conditional use authorization from the Planning Commission when changing the character and use of property. Mirkarimi's legislation seeks to “preserve and develop Japantown as a viable neighborhood by revitalizing its commercial, recreation, cultural and spiritual identity”. “Japantown is too precious – we need to begin working towards securing the future of Japantown to ensure that future generations will know, understand and appreciate its cultural, historic and international importance”, Mirkarimi said. Mirarimi noted that 2006 marks the 100th Anniversary of Japantown, with a number of public celebrations planned to commemorate the historic community, now only one of three Japantowns remaining in the United States.

“We are calling on activists from throughout San Francisco to join with us to ask the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to support these preservation efforts”. Jeff Adachi (San Francisco Public Defender) noted that Mayor Gavin Newsom recently announced that he is developing covenants (agreements) to preserve the character of Japantown. “It is critical that we act now, and express that we do not want to see Japantown re-developed into condominiums. There is also widespread concern that rents will go up and long-time tenants and businesses forced out of the community”, Adachi said.

The rally will begin with a march from the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, 1840 Sutter street, at 9:00 am. 15,000 petition signatures have been collected and will be presented to the Mayor and the Board Of Supervisors.

The rally will begin at 10:00 am on the steps of City Hall. Speakers include Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, President of the Board Aaron Peskin, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, Seiko Fujimoto, co-president of the Japantown Merchant's Association, Rosalyn Tonai, Executive Director of the National Japanese American Historical Society, and Aaron Kitashima, of the Students Organized to Save Japantown (SOS Japantown) and the Asian Student Union at San Francisco State University. Mark Leno's office will also issue a statement in support of the community's efforts.